Boston College vs. Clemson: What the Student Body Can Do

When I decided that I was going to be attending Boston College in January 2016, the Eagles were in the middle of becoming the first school in more than 40 years to lose every conference game in both football and men’s basketball. My classmates were ruthless; I was subject to countless tweets and hallway jokes. I couldn’t even consider that we would host College Gameday during my time on the Heights, unless I took the old Tommy Boy route.

But nearly three years later, here we are. College Gameday, headlined by Chris Fowler, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit is headed to Chestnut Hill to watch the Eagles play host to the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night. Both teams control their own destiny in the ACC Atlantic, with the winner having the inside track at a spot in the ACC Championship Game. However, Clemson can clinch the division with a win on Saturday night, whereas BC still has games against Florida State and Syracuse after this week. Needless to say, this is the biggest game since I’ve been on campus.

With a win, BC can firmly plant itself in the College Football Playoff conversation; winning out possibly puts the Eagles in the playoff (depending on what happens elsewhere) and basically guarantees them a New Year’s Six berth. As unlikely as that is (FiveThirtyEight gives the Eagles a 16% chance of upsetting the Tigers and a 6% chance of winning out), the Eagles are ranked number 17 in the College Football Playoff Rankings; they can really play. No longer is BC the laughingstock of the ACC. The Eagles have handled traditional ACC powers Miami and Virginia Tech and will have an opportunity to do the same against Florida State.

What Students Should Do

1. Go to College Gameday. It’s early, it’s long, and it will be cold, but College Gameday hasn’t been to Chestnut Hill since 2008, and who knows how long it’ll be before they return. Make signs, poke fun at Dabo Swinney and Clemson, and start the day off early.
2. Get to the stadium before the game starts. Athletic Director Martin Jarmond opened the tailgating an hour early, so there’s no excuse to not leave the Mods and all other tailgating spots 30-45 minutes before kickoff so that the student section is full by the time Steve Addazio leads his Dudes out from the locker room and onto the field. Have faith that Martin Jarmond will start the tailgating early. Against a team as good as Clemson, home-field advantage is crucial. If the student section is half-full at kickoff, by the time the crowd makes its way in, the Tigers will have a two touchdown lead. They’re too good. It’s one of those games. Give the Eagles a chance to punch them in the mouth, early and often. Do your part.
3. Be loud. Make the home-field advantage felt by everyone wearing purple and orange (really dumb colors, by the way). Make it hard for the Tigers to hear themselves think on offense before every play. Reward BC for playing well. Every play will be a battle, each yard will be fought for, and the Eagles deserve support all night long.
4. Storm the field after we win. We’re in the College Football Playoff conversation. In the words of Steve Addazio, “It’s gonna be a helluva night in Chestnut Hill.”

Roll Eags.